Are You Meant To Be A Rancher?

Everyone talks about the importance of passion in success. They say that if you aren’t passionate about what you’re doing, you should find something else to do. I’ve read a lot on what the experts have to say on the power of passion.

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Everyone talks about the importance of passion in success. They say that if you aren’t passionate about what you’re doing, you should find something else to do. I’ve read a lot on what the experts have to say on the power of passion.

It’s always striking to me just how much variation there is in success in this business and how little it has to do with work ethic or intelligence. I think the difference seems to always come down to passion. I certainly don’t know how to measure it, but as the saying goes – I know it when I see it.

The following questions might provide clues about whether you have the passion you need for the cattle business.

Do you want to get out of bed each morning?

Are you excited about life and feel fortunate to be able to do the things you get to do every day?

Do your family and friends like being around you; would they describe you as a happy person who likes his lot in life?

Do thoughts of cows hit by lightning, hail storms and droughts keep you up at night?

When that “snakey” cow cuts back on you, do you yell at your help or circle back to get her?

When you have three days of work to accomplish and a Christmas concert to attend in four hours, are you frustrated or motivated?

If someone was to ask you your top five passions in life, could you answer them?

If you know your top five passions, are you spending the majority of your time in those areas?

Is your decision-making process dictated by necessity or driven in accordance with long-term goals?

Would you say you spend the majority of your time doing what you love?

Do you spend the majority of your time with people you love?

Do you have a vision of where you’ll be and what you want to accomplish this year and in five years?

If you can honestly give a positive answer to all these questions, then you’re one of the luckiest people in the world and definitely in the right profession. If the answer was either uncertain or negative on half or more of these questions, perhaps it’s time to look at alternatives. -- Troy Marshall